Insight

Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit: Key concepts and summit rationale

By Henry David Venema, Henry David Venema, Karla Zubrycki (Editor), Jason E.J. Manaigre (Technical Producer) on February 11, 2011

Dr. Henry David (Hank) Venema introduces key concepts of the Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit, held in Winnipeg, Canada, on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2010.

Dr. Venema presents the focus question for the summit: "How do we create and take advantage of opportunities for Manitoba's economy while reducing nutrient loading within the Lake Winnipeg Basin?" Key elements of the summit rationale include the possibility that strategic investment in phosphorous recapture could help develop a strong Manitoban bioeconomy (an economy structured around renewable resources and the efficient use of non-renewable resources) and the notion that the world economy is on the verge of a new "wave of innovation." In addition, Dr. Venema explains that Manitobans have a history of visionary thinking, as witnessed through such past feats such as the construction of the Manitoba Floodway. Dr. Venema suggests that Manitobans can, once again, seize upon their history of innovative thinking in order to solve the problems currently facing Lake Winnipeg.